After contractors abandoned a number of road projects, MCD has been left with no other option but to re-tender them to start fresh work. Neelam Pandey reports.

After contractors abandoned a number of road projects, MCD has been left with no other option but to re-tender them to start fresh work. However, according to sources, re-tendering of these works would result in cost escalation — something that the cash-strapped Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cannot afford.

To ensure other contractors don’t leave work midway, the civic body has even resorted to blacklisting a few who had abandoned projects in Karol Bagh and Sadar Paharganj zone. “We have blacklisted some contractors for the time being. Leaving work midway is not the solution. I’ll be writing a letter to the Delhi government to release the funds shortly,” said Yogender Chandolia, chairman. MCD Standing Committee.

In addition to this, a lot of colony roads were supposed to be relayed in the City, South, West and Central zones. But this has not yet started. The civic agency has not paid the contractors who carry out most of the civil work in the city for the MCD for the past one and a half year.

“The last payment to the contractors was made in 2009, after which we haven’t been able to release any amount,” said a senior MCD official. “We had discussed the matter with the contractors last week but they have refused to budge. We will have to re-tender the projects,” the official added. In addition, there are a number of projects where contractors, due to absence of funds, have slowed down construction work.

“A number of contractors have been constructing new school buildings for the past two years. But it has not been completed because they have slowed down work after not being paid any money,” said a senior MCD official.